When is it necessary to change ball joints on a Chevy Niva and how to do it correctly

The design features of the front suspension of the Niva Chevrolet are that it provides for the presence of four identical ball joints at the top and bottom. The design of the suspension is extremely simple, since it is inherited from the classic VAZ-2121 Niva car, so it should not be difficult to replace the ball joints yourself and you should not immediately resort to the help of a service station.

The ball joint on the VAZ -2123 is a ball joint that is attached to the lever, connecting it to the steering knuckle. The upper and lower ball joints are the same, unlike the VAZ 2101-07. Ball joints on a car experience heavy loads, especially when the car is used for its intended purpose - off-road driving.

The article number of the ball joint is 21230-2904192-82. The average price for an original support is 535 rubles. What analogues can be considered?

I strongly recommend not to skimp on such highly critical parts as a ball joint. Choose either the original manufacturer or products from the TRACK line, which has established itself as a manufacturer of quality products for domestic cars, which is a rarity today. In addition, if one ball joint fails, then all 4 new bearings are installed.

What ball joints are in the field?

Three generations. They differ from each other in body geometry

• until 2009, a “kopek” knot was used. At the same time, there were identical parts on top and bottom. Art. – 2101-290419;
• 2009-2016 the element was unified with the model created jointly with GM. Art. – 2123-2904192. Suitable for 1st generation;
• 2016 – present, the data allows us to obtain the original wheel running distance. Interchangeability with other generations is excluded. Art. – 21214-2904082.

Do-it-yourself ball replacement

To diagnose a malfunctioning ball joint, you should rely on the following symptoms:

• knocking noise when driving on rough roads;
• when you turn the steering wheel you hear a creaking sound;
• the car drives unstably along a straight path;
• tires wear unevenly.

If the above points match your case, then you need to replace the ball joints.

About the causes of the malfunction:

• low quality parts (most often);
• lack of lubrication under the boot or rupture of the boot;
• natural wear and tear;
• Frequent off-road driving.

Replacing the lower support

To remove the Niva 2121 ball joint, lift the car on a jack and remove the wheel, clean all elements from dirt using a wire brush or compressed air, unscrew the hub adjusting nut (with the cap installed, use a chisel).

Using a 22 mm spanner, unscrew the nut securing the assembly to the steering knuckle (KC).

Place a stop at the lower point of the suspension arm (screw jack, bottle jack, block of wood).

Release the ball mount from the lower arm using two 13 mm wrenches.

Move the PC away from the lever.

Using a puller, press out the ball joint pin.

If you don’t have a special device at hand, insert a block into the space between the upper suspension arm and the rebound buffer bracket, after compressing the spring using a block or jack and tightening the support pin nut. Then hit the PC eyelet with concentrated blows until you get the result.

Before installing new supports, do not forget to fill it with ShRB-4 lubricant.

Spherical bearing

Cars before 2009 were equipped with the same upper and lower ball joints ( A )

After 2009 (and until 2016), the ball ones were modified. The upper ones began to differ from the lower ones. Moreover, the lower ones are unified with the ball joints from the Chevrolet Niva, and the upper ones are original, they can be installed on cars until 2009 (both up and down)

This is what the ball joints of the front suspension of A and B like before 2009 and since 2009, respectively.

After 2016, the balls were modified again. Both the upper and lower ones have become completely original and are no longer interchangeable either with the Chevrolet Niva or with their previous generations.

Hello Drayvovites. Some time ago I noticed that the boot on the ball joints was in a dead state, in other words, they just fell apart. Initially I wanted to just replace the anthers, I went through car dealerships and they weren’t on sale anywhere.

I don’t know, maybe I just went to the wrong stores, the old classic Nivas have anthers, but they don’t fit the Shniv ones. After surfing the Internet for another hour, I decided to completely replace the ball joints.

After reading the comments and reviews, my attention focused on ball joints from the SEVI company (Balakovo).

Having chosen a free day, I started repairing (replacing), I’ll admit right away, I didn’t change it myself, my brother helped, since he has experience in this matter, something I’ve never encountered before.

I don’t know how many kilometers the previous ball joints have covered, since I bought my shniva two years ago. I don’t know how much the previous owner drove on them.

And now new supports have been installed. The packaging states that they are designed for 60,000 km or 3 years of operation, I don’t know whether this is a lot or a little, and whether they will cover this distance.

Well, the old ball ones, two of which turned out to be still in quite working condition, and two were already quite well worn out. The ball in the body dangled quite freely, although they say that they are also resurrected.

Now I will watch how and how long the new ones will work. The cost of a new support is 600 rubles (no fasteners were included in the kit) + two nuts for 15 rubles each.

Ball joints on a Chevrolet Niva - which ones are better?

Ball joint Lanos, Sens CTR (original/counterfeit)

After all, it is not enough just to purchase a new product. Let's look at what a ball joint on a Chevrolet Niva is, what its main purpose is, what it is.

At this stage you can remove the ball. Both the lower and upper supports always need to be replaced.

Ball joints manufactured by Nipparts or JapanCars are also in good standing with experts and ordinary motorists. It is imperative to check that the boot rubber is of high quality.

After the ball is removed, it is replaced with a new one. The installation order is inversely proportional to removal. Replacement of ball joints is carried out on both sides.

Manufacturer transmaster

Checking and selecting a product Before replacing ball joints, you need to check them for serviceability. It is best, of course, to entrust this process to professionals from a car service center.

But this method of verification is expensive and not always correct. It is best to use the home method. To do this, after removal, the appearance of the supports is inspected. Damage to the integrity of the boot; Increased play of bearings to break.

For fans of extreme driving, ball joints from the Trek production association are offered.

Thanks to this, the manufacturer specifies a service life of the support of 60 thousand kilometers, regardless of operating conditions. Consumers claim that the high price of such components is completely justified - they really do not create any problems during operation.

However, the problem with counterfeits is also relevant for ball joints from this manufacturer. For foreign cars The list of ball joints for foreign cars includes the most famous world manufacturers - in this case, dealing with unknown brands is dangerous, since the consequences of a breakdown may require repairs costing more than one thousand dollars.

The best option for European cars are Febi ball joints, which are manufactured exclusively using solid forged technology. You can also expect long life when purchasing products from Delphi and Moog.

To save money without losing quality and safety, you should give preference to Mapco products.

Checking the suspension. Diagnostics of ball joints. Knocks. Checking the wheel bearings NIVA VAZ 1h

Experts recommend paying attention to ball joints from the following manufacturers: TRW; Sidem; Fenox Japanese manufacturers recommend purchasing products from other suppliers, although most of the brands mentioned above also produce spare parts for cars from Asia. Nipparts ball joints are considered the best option for Japanese cars.

The company's products with a simple name have also earned praise from consumers. Now you should place the key on the stop under the lower arm and unscrew all the fastening nuts of the ball joint housing itself. The only thing left to do is remove all the remaining bolts from the mounting holes and remove the steering knuckle together with the support.

Now you need to use a puller to push the support pin out of the fist. Then the fist is moved to the side and the hinge body is removed from the hub.

At this stage, the last part of the support is removed. As for installing a new ball joint, the procedure will be completely proportional to removal.

Remember not to replace ball joints on just one side. It is important to immediately change the parts on both sides one by one. Checking the ball joints Before installing a new ball joint, it must be carefully checked again.

Replacement features

Both the lower and upper ball joints must not have any defects or damage. It is best to check the details immediately upon purchase.

But it also happens that the garage already has spare supports purchased earlier. Then you need to check it immediately before installing it on the chassis of the car.

Most often, the boot is damaged in the parts or there is play in the supports. Therefore, these parts will need to be checked first. Some ball joints that have been removed from a vehicle have no play.

Then you can simply replace the boot, and the support can serve for some time. If there is no boot, then it is recommended to replace the part completely. Everything that could be said about the theory and manufacturer of these supports is said in the article about ball joints for the field.

In this opus I will tell you only about the little things that deserve attention and distinguish some supports from others. Manufacturer transmaster ball joint nvy chevrolet, manufacturer transmaster A frequently asked question is why they chose this particular manufacturer and not another.

Top brands

Initially, we wanted to make friends with Belmag. Indeed, the quality is very good, and for many spare parts. CV joints, tripoids, ball joints - everything is pleasant to hold in your hands and install on cars. But it turned out to be very difficult to negotiate with the plant on direct supplies.

How to extend the life of ball joints?

Plastic liners of parts are destroyed under the influence of two factors:

1. The shock load that occurs when driving on an uneven road.
2. The abrasive effect of dirt.

Impact loads can be reduced by avoiding potholes and reducing speed on uneven roads. But the main thing that affects the life of the hinges is the condition of the boot.

If the rubber band is damaged, dirt gets stuck between the finger and the plastic inserts, quickly grinding down the parts, and a squeaking may occur. To prevent this, it is necessary to regularly check the condition of the anthers and change them if damage occurs.

An important role here is played by the presence of lubricant in the space between the protective cover and the ball. Thick “Litol” lubricates rubbing surfaces. It is even able to protect the liners from dust for some time if the boot is damaged. However, this does not eliminate the need to replace the latter.

Signs of malfunctions and how to check

Knock from the wheel - a characteristic clang is clearly audible while driving. It does not disappear even at low speeds. Intensifies when hitting an obstacle. The symptom may appear only once or be systematic during increased loads on the ball joint. Exceptions include severe frost - in this case, the lubricant in the CV joint may freeze, as a result of which the support heats up during the start of movement, which creates a knock.

If the ball joint is damaged and the wheel alignment characteristics have changed, then the main symptom will be rapid wear of the rubber in the lower part of the wheel. Play in the ball joint causes the wheel to begin to loosen. This leads to the loss of the ability to keep the road straight. Deviations from the norm will increase along with speed.

Creaking when turning is a sign of damage to the power steering or steering rack. To accurately determine the source of the sound, it is recommended to undergo diagnostics. Uneven tire wear is visible upon visual inspection. When it's time to replace the ball joint, severe wear will be noted along the inside edge of the tread.

If during braking the trajectory of the car changes, then a problem with the ball joint may be indicated by movement to the side (to the damaged side). This is accompanied by clicking or tapping.

Replacing the lower ball joint on a VAZ 21213 and VAZ 2123

If this fails, then we hit the finger with weak blows so that it comes out of the fist, or goes a little into it.
When replacing a ball joint on a Chevrolet Niva, the very first thing to do is remove the wheel. This way you can increase the service life of the support significantly. Replacing the ball joint on the Chtvrolet Niva. One of the main problems during the operation of brand cars...

Factory ball joints are much inferior in quality to those supplied to the market by secondary manufacturers and, even under normal driving conditions, rarely last more than 10 thousand. New ball joints on a Chevrolet Niva are installed quite simply; the procedure can be done in any garage using standard equipment.

These are one of the first signs of rapid wear of the ball joint, by which you can determine the need for replacement. Replacing ball joints on a Chevrolet Niva consists of several simple operations.

Factory ball joints are much inferior in quality to those supplied to the market by secondary manufacturers, and even under normal driving conditions they rarely last more than 10 thousand. Replacing a ball joint with a Chtvrolet Niva Choosing a ball joint. The best ball joints are those made in the city.

replacing a ball joint on Niva 21213 video.

Checking the product.

Before replacing ball joints on a Chevrolet Niva, you need to inspect their appearance for damage. Typically, such an assessment is carried out by specialists at a service station. But this cannot always guarantee a good result; in addition, this method is quite expensive. When inspecting yourself, you must first of all pay attention to the main signs of malfunctions:

• Large gap gap
• Damage to the surface of the boot

If only the boot is out of order, and the wear is not so strong that there is a backlash, then you can only get by by replacing it. If the problem is more serious, then the owner is faced with the question of choosing a high-quality and inexpensive part. The most common options on the market are products from Kedr, Phobos and Trek. Usually the cost of the sets is the same and does not exceed 3,000 rubles.

Tips for extending the life of ball joints and further operation

The main culprit for the rapid failure of ball joints is a weak seal. The rubber used on the boot weakly resists external factors and quickly breaks, after which dirt and water get into the joint and the ball joint begins to knock. If you buy cheap ball joints, then in any case you will have to buy good boots separately. Polyurethane anthers perform well in terms of resistance to aggressive environments.

• The second point: increased wear on ball joints. The car's suspension is structurally from the 60s. The size of the ball joints is too small to carry even average loads, not to mention constant use on poor country roads. When choosing expensive manufacturers, you can be confident in the quality of the parts, but I recommend checking for the presence of lubricant under the anthers, since in many cases there is none there at all.

The service life of ball joints on a Chevrolet Niva is too ambiguous. Depending on the manufacturer and where the car is operated, ball joints can last from 5 to 50,000 kilometers.

After replacing the ball joints, you should take the car to have the wheel alignment checked.

If you have any problems with dismantling and installation work, then there are many videos on the Internet on how to get out of this or that situation. A common situation is turning the pin together with the nut when removing the ball joint.